Official Kentucky Symbols, Etc.
The year adopted by the legislature is in parentheses.
Agricultural insect: Honeybee. (2010)
Amphitheater: Iroquois Amphitheater, Iroquois Park, Louisville. (2001)
Arboretum: Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest. (1994)
Bird: native redbird, commonly known as the Kentucky cardinal. (1926)
Birthplace of Beer Cheese: Clark county. (2013)
Bluegrass Song: "Blue Moon of Kentucky" by Bill Monroe. (1988)
Botanical Garden: University of Kentucky and Lexington-Fayette County Arboretum (2000)
Bourbon Festival: Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown. (2000)
Butterfly: viceroy. (1990)
Center for Celebration of African American Heritage: Kentucky Center for African American Heritage. (2002)
Commonwealth Theatre: Devou Park Summer Classics Theatre of Covington (1992)
Covered Bridge: Switzer bridge. (1998)
Covered Bridge Capital: Fleming county. Kentucky has eleven covered bridges still standing, some still in use. Three are in Fleming county. (1998)
Dance: clogging. (2006)
Drink: milk. (2005)
Fish: Kentucky spotted bass. (1996)
Flag: Details
Flower: The goldenrod (genus Solidago). More than 30 varieties are native to Kentucky and two, Short's and the white-haired (S. shortii and S. albopilosa), occur in few places outside Kentucky. (1926)
Fossil: brachiopod. (1986)
Fruit: blackberry. (2004)
Gemstone: fresh-water pearl. (1986)
Gun: Kentucky long rifle. (2013)
Honey Festival: Clarkson Honeyfest. (2006)
Horse: thoroughbred. (1996)
Latin Motto: Deo gratiam habeamus. (2002)
Mineral: coal. (1998)
Motto: United we stand, divided we fall. (1942)
Music: Bluegrass. (1988)
Musical Instrument: Appalachian dulcimer. (2001)
Museum of African American History: Jackson Hall at Kentucky State University. (2018)
Original Soft Drink: Ale-8-One. (2013)
Outdoor Muscial: "The Stephen Foster Story." (2002)
Pipe Band: Louisville Pipe Band. (2000)
Rock: Kentucky agate. (2000)
Saddle: Kentucky Springseat Saddle (2019)
Science Center: Louisville Science Center. (2006) (Originally the Louisville Museum of Natural History and Science, then the Louisville Science Center, and since 2012 the Kentucky Science Center)
Seal: Details
Shakespeare Festival: Shakespeare in Central Park of Louisville (1984)
Silverware Pattern: Old Kentucky Blue Grass, The Georgetown Pattern. (1996)
Soil: Crider soil series. (1990)
Song: "My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night!," by Stephen Foster. (1942, modern lyrics adopted in 1988)
Sports Car: Corvette. (2010)
Steam Locomotive: Old 152 at the Kentucky Railway Museum. (2000)
Theater Pipe Organ: Kentucky Theater's Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Pipe Organ. (2005)
Tree: tulip poplar. (1994, changed from the Kentucky coffee tree)
Tug-of-War Championship: Fordsville Tug-of-War Championship. (1990)
Wild Animal Game Species: gray squirrel. (1968)
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Information about travelling and vacationing in Kentucky is available from the Kentucky Department of Travel's Kentucky tourism web site. Links to other state offices can be found on the main state government web site.
The official state highway map and individual county maps are available from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
A listing of selected Kentucky place names is available.
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© 2024 David C. Elbon